Automatic phonograph



Oct. 31, 1939. s. KOHN AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed March 31, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l 31, 1939. s. KOHN AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 4 Sheeflshoet 2 Filed March 31, 1936 Oct. '31, 1939 s. KOHN I 7 AUTOMATIC- rnonoemrn 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March :51, 1936 AUTOMATIC PHOEOGRAPH Filed March 31, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet .4

- PatenteciOct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES 2,178,260 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Samuel Kohn, New York, N. Y., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application March 31, 1936, Serial No. 71,910

. 24' Claims.

This invention relates to phonographs, and more particularly to an automatic phonograph of the type wherein aplurality of recordsare stacked upon the turntable for successive reproduction.

Heretofore, automatic phonographs of this type have been arranged to play each record in succession and to remove each record from the stack, in turn, to a record receptacle at the completion of playing thereof. Thus, after all of the records have been played once, it is necessary to reload the turntable to provide another record stack thereon. In other words, phonographs of this r to provide an improved phonograph of the type,

type are automatic only in the sense that each record ofthe stack is played in its turn until all of the records have been played, after which the machine requires .the attention of the operator for continued automatic operation. 4

The primary object of my present invention is set forth which will not only automatically play the entire repertoire once, but which will continne to do so thereafterwithout requiring reloading or any attention whatsoever. on the part of the operator, thereby being a truly continuously playing, automatic phonograph.

More. specifically, it is anobject of my invention to provide an improved automatic phonograph of the type set forth which, when once set in operation, will continue to play the entire repertoire of records and then repeat the repertoire indefinitely, or until the power is shut off.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved phonograph of the type mentioned wherein records are interchanged within the stack itself to present a new record for playing. Still another object of my invention is to provide an. improved phonograph of the type specified which maybe easilyrand quickly converted from an automatic machine to a manually operable machine, and vice versa. 1

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved automatic phonograph as aforesaid which can be preset to play records of various istic of' my invention are set forth with particu sizes. 4

Still a further object of my invention is to pro vide an improved automatic phonograph of the type set forth wherein the records are all playe from the same level.

invention is to pro- I is Verycompact and may be housed within a relatively small cabinet.

It is a further object of my invention to provide /an improved phonograph of the type set forth which is very accurate and highly eflicient in 5 operation, which comprises a minimum number of operating parts consistent with such operation, and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. i I

In accordance with my present invention, I provide the turntable with a motor driven spindle which extends sufficiently above the turntable to have a plurality of disc records threaded thereon. At the completion of playing of the topmost record, mechanism is set into operation which raises the entire stack of records above the turntable and threads all of the records ontoa' centerin'g spindle substantially axially aligned with the .turntable spindle, after which the centering spindle is withdrawn slightly to leave the lowermost record of the stack free to be removed. A transfer arm then removes the lowermost record from the stack, whereupon the remaining records of the stack are lowered back onto the turntable and the transfer arm brings the removed record over to the top of the stack to present a new playing surface to the record scanning element. Since the successive lowermost records are only temporarily removed from the stack andare immediately returned thereto in the manner described, the total number of records in the stack remains constantonce the repertoire is arranged, and an r endless series-of records is therefore provided. Thus, my improved phonograph will'automaticallyplay records continuously and indefinitely, or until the power is shut off. By means of an appropriate indexing device, .the automatic mechanism can not only be set to play records of various diameters, but it can also be rendered temporarily ineffective to perform the steps cut 6 lined above, whereby records may be played manually.

The novel features that I consider character-- bodiment thereof, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a top. plan View of one form of my invention showing, in solid lines, the position of the parts at the beginning of the playing of a record and with the index mechanism in 10" 5 position; and in dot-dash lines the position of the parts after the record has been played and the lowermost record of the stack has been removed, the record transfer arm being shown, in the latter position, just prior to its return movement to return the lowermost record to the top of the stack,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure of Fig. 1 viewed approximately from the plane II--II,

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the position of the parts corresponding to the dot-dash line corresponding approximately to the dot-dash line position of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 isa sectional view taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 1 and showing the parts in the full line position of Fig. 1,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6, but with the parts corresponding to the dot-dash line position of Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is a central section taken on the line V11IV1'.[I of Fig. 1,

Fig, 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the pick-up arm returning mechanism,

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line X--X of Fig. 7,

Fig. '11 is a sectional view taken on the line XI-XI of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 12 is a view partly in elevation and part1 in section taken on the line XII-XII of Fig. 4

Referring more specifically to the drawings,

wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout, there is shown a motor board I supporting a motor 3 which drives a spindle 5 on which a turntable 1 is mounted, the spindle 5 having driving engagement with the turntable. The spindle 5 extends above the turntable 1 a distance suflicient to threadedly receive a plurality of disc records 9 which are supported on the turntable for successive reproduction by a suitable record scanning element or sound reproducing instrumentality, such as an electrical pick-up II, and an associated amplifier and loud speaker (not shown) in a manner hereinafter-more fully described.

The pick-up device II is carried by a support-- ing arm l3 which is pivotally mounted at l5 on a collar l1 frictionally fitted on a vertical shaft I9 for movement therewith. To the lower end of the shaft I9 is also fixed, as by means of a collar 2| and a set screw 23, an arm 25 carrying, at its free end, an upwardly extending pin 26. It. will be clear, therefore, that the arm l3 and its pickup II can move in a vertical direction about the pivot pin l5 and in a horizontal direction on the shaft l9, the arm l3 carrying with it the arm 25 in the latter movement.

The shaft I9 is rotatable in a bushing 21 which is itself rotatably carried by a standard 29 fixed to the motor board at one side of the turntable, as by a plurality of screws 3|. The standard 29 is provided with a pair of spaced, rearwardly extending walls 33 and a pair of rear lugs 35, and also has an annular recess 31 at its upper end; Force fit upon the upper end of the bushing 21 for rotation therewith and fitted within the annular recess 31, but spaced therefrom by a suitable washei\36, is a collar 39 formed integrally on a record transfer arm 4|. The arm 4| is also provided with an annular track 43 which terminates in an inclined cam portion 45 and with a stepped portion 41 which, adjacent to the cam 45, is provided with an aperture 49, while the rear wall of the track 43 is formed with a channel 5| for a purpose presently to be set forth. The other, or record engaging, edge of the arm 5| is provided with a pair of rollers 53 6| is pivotally mounted for movement in a verti-' cal plane toward and away from the turntable 1, the arm 6| carrying a record centering spindle 63 of somewhat smaller diameter than the spindle 5. When the arm 6| .is in lowered position, the spindle 63 is adapted to engage and form an extension of the spindle 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, so'that, upon elevation of the record stack 9, the records will become threaded on the spindle 63. The arm 6| also carries a roller 65 under which the track 43 is arranged to pass while in engagement therewith during advance of the transfer arm 4|; a downwardly extending pin 61 having a head 69 which is received in the aperture 49 when the arm 6| is in lowered position, as shown in-Fig. 2, but which is received in the channel 5| while the record transfer arm 41 is advanced, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7;and an-upwardly extending pin 1| for engaging the pick-up arm l3. Pivoted between the lugs 35 is a latch plate 13 which is connected to the arm 6| by a coil spring 15, the rear end of the arm 6| having a detent 11 adjustably secured thereto by means of the screws" for cooperation with the toes 19 and 8| of the plate 13. The screws 18 may be initially adjusted so that when the detent engages the toe 19 (Fig. 6), the arm 6| is in its lowered position with the spindle 63 engaging the spindle 5, as shown in Fig. 2, but when the arm 6 l is raised until the detent 11 has passed thetoe 8| into the dwell 82, the toe 8| willhold the arm 6| in elevated position so that the record stack 9 may be easily-threaded on or removed from the turntable spindle 5. Such movement of the arm 6| on the pin 59 is possible .and which has a lateral extension 86 adjacent its other end 81. The member 83 is slidably mounted on a pair of. studs 89 which are fixed to the motor board I and extend through the slots 9|, the member 83 being held against the studs 89 by a plate 93 and screws 95, as clearly shown in Fig. 12. A leaf spring 91 fixed to the plate 93 presses against the member 83 with suflicient force to keep it from sliding around loosely, while one or the slots 9| is provided with acam surface 92 for a purpose shortly to be described.

Pivoted onthe end 81 of the member 83 is a trip lever 99 which terminates ill-8n arcuate surface IOI with which'a downwardly extending pin or lug I03 on a gear I05 is arranged to cooperate. The gear I05 is driven from a gear I01 on the spindle 5 and preferably has a 5:1'-ratio therewith so that the gear I05 makes one revolution for every five revolutions of the turntable. During travel of the pick-up II over the record being played, the pick-up arm I3 and the,arm 25 move together horizontally and the pin 26 engages the end I of the trip lever 99 and moves it counterclockwise (as seen in Fig. 4) about its pivot I02, thus bringing the arcuate portion IOI into the path of the lug I03. At every fifth revolution of the turntable 1, the lug I03 engages the surface IM and cams the lever 99 back somewhat in a clockwise direction about the pin 26, since the end 100 is now engaged by the pin 26. This results in a slight forward advance of the slid- -gage a fixed stop I I5 secured to the lower surface of the motorboard I. During playing of the record, the bellcrank I09 occupies the position shown in Fig. 4 under the influence of-a small, weak spring (omitted for the sake of clearness). If the record being played has a rapid lead-in groove terminating in either a concentric or an eccentric terminal groove, the pickup II, its arm I3 and the arm 25 will be given a quick inward movement when that groove is reached and the pin-26 will rotate the lever 99 counterclockwise about the pivot I02 through an angle suflicient to cause the end II3 of the 'bellcrank I09 to abut against the stop II5. This causes the bellcrank I09 to rotate in a clockwise direction to bring the shoulder III into the path of the lug-I03 to initiate a cycle of automatic operations in the manner shortly to be set forth. If the record being played happens to terminate in aconcentric terminal groove and does not have a rapid lead-in groove, counter-clockwise rotation of the lever 99 on its pivot I02 will cease as soon as the stylus has entered the terminal groove. However, continued rotation of the gearl05 will eventually cause the lug I03 to rotate the lever 99 about the pin 26 an amount suflicient to cause advancement ofthe member 03 until the cam surface 92 has passed its stud 89. At this point, the spring 91 imparts a counterclockwise rotationof the member 83 about its other stud 89 an amount sulficient to interpose the shoulder III in the path of the lug I03. Thus, regardless of the type of rec- 0rd being played, engagement of the lug I 03 with the shoulder III must eventually be effected.

As soon as the lug I03 has tripped the lever 99 in the manner heretofore described, a spring blade I I1 engages an upwardly extending pin II9 on a master cam III and gives the cam I2I a clockwise rotation sufiicient to cause engagement of the periphery thereof with a friction gear I23 which maybe fixed to the gear. I05 for rotation therewith, whereby rotation of the cam I2I is continued. The master cam I2I, which is rotatably carried by a slide bar I25, is provided with a rise between the points B and C, thereafter has its periphery concentric with its axis of rotation until approximately the pointD, after which it has a gradual drop until the point B, at which point it takes a sharp drop, so that the cam 12] maybe out of engagement with the friction gear I23 during playing of a record. As the cam I2I rotates, the rise B-C forces it away from the tion of the arrow E (Fig. 4).

Fixed to the motorboard I is a downwardly extending bracket I21 on which is pivotally 1 mounted a yoke member I29 having its ends I3I bifurcated. Each end I3I is laterally slotted to receive a plate I33 which is provided with an elongated slot I35 through which a post I31 extends, each post I 31 having a pin I39 extending therethrough and received by the plates I33 so that, as the yoke I29 is raised, the post I31 can pivot relative thereto. An upstanding pin I on the slide bar I25 engages a cross pin I43 on the yoke I29 and imparts counterclockwise movement to theyoke I29, as viewed in Fig. 2, whereby the posts I31 are elevated. The posts I31 are slidcally opposite sides of the turntable], one of the. posts I31 carryingat its upper end a record en-- gaging member I41, and the other post I31 carrying at its upper end a record engaging'member I48, the members I41 and I40 occupying a; position below the surface of the turntable during playing of a record, as clearly shown in Fig.- 2. When the posts I31 are raised in the manner heretofore described, the members I41 and I48 engage the projecting edges of the lowermost record of' the stack and elevate the entire stack well above the turntable to the position shown in Fig. 3.

Shortly after the master cam I2I commences to rotate, an eccentric pin I5I thereon engages a rack I53 which is pivotally mounted on the motor board at I55.and causes it to rotate counterclockwise, as viewed inFig. 4, to produce clockwise rotation of a gear I51 in mesh therewith. The

toward-the record stack. This takes place after the records have been elevated to a position such that .the lowermost record of the stack is in the plane of movement of the arm 4|. As soon as the arm 4| begins its movement toward the recgear I23 and moves the slide bar I25 in the direc- 0rd stack, the cam surface rides under the roller 65 and raises the arm 6| a distance surficient to withdraw the center pin 63 from the center hole of the lowermost record, at the same time causing withdrawal of 'the pin 61 from the aperture 49, whereby the head 69 thereof is adapted to be received within the channel 5I to M and SI. Y

When the arm 4I reaches the record stack, the rollers 53 thereof engage the lower surface of the record, while the forward edge ofthe finger piece 55 engages the edge of the lowermost record and pushes it away from the stack until it engages a stop bar I59 secured to the motor board I, whereupon the record is forced in between the fingerpiece 55 and spring 51. The arm M then advances to the dot and dash line position of further limit relative movement between the arms Fig. 1* to remove the lowermost record entirely the pin TI on the arm BI engages the pick-up arm l3 and raises it slightly above the topmost rec-" ord so that upon subsequent return of the pick-up arm to starting position, the needle will not scratch the topmost record. The lower surface of the pick-up arm I3 is formed with a gradual incline I 3a which the upper end of the pin 42 on the arm 4I engages as the arm 4| moves forward. This further gradually raises the pickup arm until the pin 42 has moved past the sharp incline I 3b on the pickup arm. On the return movement of the record transfer arm 4|, the pin 42 engages the sharp incline l3b and moves the pick-up arm back to starting position, as determined by the index mechanism hereinafter to be described, after which the continued movement of the arm 4I causes the pin 42 to slide past the incline I31) and back to its normal, or rest, position.

Return of the record transfer arm 4| to normal position is produced by engagement of the pin I I9 of the master cam I2I with a lever I6I which is pivotally mounted on the motorboard I and which has a slot I63 therein for the reception of a downwardly extending pin I65 on the rack I53. The pin IISimparts counterclockwise rotation to the lever I6I which, in turn, imparts clockwise rotation to the rack I53 about its pivot, I55, and this, in turn, produces counterclockwise rotation to the gear I51 and its associated record transfer arm 4I. As the pickup arm I3 is returned to starting position, the arm 25 is, of course, returned with it, and the pin 26 engages the member 83 to return it to starting position. At the same time, an upstanding lug I51 on the gear I51 engages the adjacent end of a lever I68 which is pivotally carried by the extension 81 and moves it slightly in a clockwise direction to cause it to engage the pin 26 and positively bring the stylus of the pickup II into the starting groove of the new record. Movement of the lever I68 is limeited by a downwardly extending lug IIIlthereon which cooperates with a pair of stops I12 on the extension 86.

Between the time that the arm M has reached its dot-and-dash line position and the time it has returned to its solid line, or rest, position of Fig. 1, the cam I2I has rotated sufiiciently to bring the point D thereof in engagement with the friction wheel I23. The weight of the records and the turntable then causes the posts I31 to lower under the influence of gravity, thereby lowering the yoke I29 and returning the slide all remain in rest position and the playing of bar I25 to its rest position, and when the cam I2I has rotated until the point B leaves the friction gear I23, the sudden drop at this point causes sudden disengagement of the cam I2I from the friction gear I23, whereupon the parts the next record is ready to be commenced. This next record is the one which the transfer arm H. has returned to the top of the stack after the stack has been lowered back onto the turntable 1,' having been freed from the transfer arm 4I by'a pair of stops I1I of the aforesaid index mechanism which centers it properly with respect to the stack.

The index mechanism comprises a hollow standard I13 fixed to the motor board I and through which a shaft I15 extends, the shaft "5 ulating a thumb screw I83, fixed to the upper end of the shaft I15, the cams I11'and I18 may either be set in the 10-inch position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, turned clockwise to set the mechanism for automatic 12-inch operation, or turned for manual operation. It will benoted that the cam I18 has the .cam portions I18a, I181: and I18c at different radial distances from the shaft I15. This enables determining the extent to which the pin 26 will return the slide member 83, and thus, also, determining the position to which the pickup arm I3 is returned, depending upon the diameter of the records of the stack. In the manual position, the cam portion "8:: engages the edge '82 of member 83 and advances the slide member 83 in the direction of the arrow A a distance such that the pin 26 does not at any time engage the end I 00 of the trip lever 99. Consequently, the automatic mechanism cannot be set into operation. An index plate I85 fixed to the standard I13 may be marked with the designations 10, "12", and

M with which a suitable pointer on the thumb screw I83 may cooperate for visably indicating the position in which the shaft I15 and its associated cams I11 and I18 are to be set for the particular operation desired. I

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved phonograph which maybe operated either automatically or manually, at will, and which, in automatic operation, will continuously play a repertoire of records through and through. The record elevating members I 41 and I 48 provide a 3- point support for the stack of records, which, together with the pin 49 and the relation of the head 59 thereof with the channel 5!, insures .proper removal of the lowermost record of the stack regardless of whether it is warped or not. It is believed that this, as well as many other advantages of my invention, will be apparent from the foregoing description. Also, it will undoubtedly be obvious to those skilled in the art that many changes in and modifications of the specific form of my'invention herein described may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it being essential, merely, that the record stack be separated from the turntable at the proper point in the cycle during automatic op- .eration, and that the records be interchanged within the stack for repeated playing. I desire, therefore, that my invention shall not be limited except insofar as is made necessary by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim: a 1. In a phonograph of the type wherein a plurality of records are stacked upon'the turntable for successive reproduction, the combination of means for reproducing the topmost record of the stack, and means effective at the completion of playing of said record to remove another record from said stack and place it on the 'top thereof to present a new record for playing;

2. In a phonograph of the type wherein a-plurality of records are stacked .upon the turntable for successive reproduction, the combination of means for reproducing the topmost record of V the stack, and means effective at the completion of playing of said record to remove the lower-- most record from said stack and place it on the top thereof to present a new record for playing.

3. In a phonograph of the type wherein a pluplaying of each record, and means for removing completion of playing of the lowermost record from the stack while said stack and said turntable are in separated relation and for subsequently replacing said-record on the top of the stack whereby to present a new record for playing;

4. In a phonograph of the type wherein a plurality of records are stacked upon the turntable for successive reproduction, the combination of means for reproducing the successive topmost records of'the stack, means for raising the stack above the turntable-upon completion of reproduction of each record, and means for removing from the raised stack the lowermost record and for subsequently replacing said record on the top of the stack whereby to present a new record for playing. 1

5. In a phonograph of the type wherein a plurality of records are stacked upon the turntable for successive reproduction, the combination of.

means for reproducing the successive-topmost records of the stack, record-elevator means associated with said stack, means efiective at the each record to render said elevator means operative to raise the entire stack of records above the turntable, means for removing the lowermost record from the'stackf when said records are in elevated position, means for causing said records to be lowered back onto said turntable, and means for causing said record removing means to place said removed record on the top of the stack whereby to present a new record for playing.

6. In a phonograph of the type wherein a plurality of records are stacked upon the turntable for successive reproduction, the combination of means for reproducing the successive topmost records of the stack, means for separating the stack from the turntable at-the completion of playing of each record, means for. removing one of the records of the stack clear of the stack while said stack .and said turntable are in separated relation, means for causing said stack to be reunited with said turntable after said one recordhas been removed therefrom, 'and means for causing said removed record to beplaced on the top of the stack whereby to present a new record for playing.

7. In a phonograph of the type wherein a plurality of records are stacked upon a turntable for successive reproduction, the combinatiorrof means for reproducing the successive topmost records of the stack, means for separating the stack from the turntable at the completion of playing of each record, means for removing the lowermost record of the stack clear of the stack while said stack and said turntable are in separated relation, means for causing said stack to be reunited with said turntable after said lowermost record has been removed therefrom, and

means for causing' said removed record to be placed on the top of the stack whereby 'to present a new record for playing.

8. In a phonograph of the most records of the stack, means forelevating the stack above the turntable at the completion onto said turntable after said lowermost record has been removed from the stack, and means type wherein ,a plurallty of records are stacked upon the turn-. table for successive reproduction, the combination of means for reproducing the successive top-- vble spindle when said arm is in for causing said removed record to be placed on the top of the stack whereby to'present a new record for playing.

9. The invention set forth in claim 8 characterized in that said record elevating means is arranged to elevate said stack to a position such that the lowermost record thereof occupies a level above that of= the topmost record when the stack is lowered back onto theturntable.

10. The invention set forth in claim 8 .characterized by theaddition of means adapted to coindexing' mechanism which is adjustable to be engaged by records of various diameters.

12. In a phonograph, the combination of a turntable, a plurality of records stacked thereon, a spindle extending upwardly from said tumtable a distance sufficient to threadedly receive said plurality of records, an arm pivotally mounted to one side of said turntable for movement toward and awayirom said turntable and having a centering spindle thereon, said centering spindle being arranged to form an extension of said turntable spindle when said arm is in lowered position, means for elevating the record stack above saidturntable spindle whereby to thread the records onto said centering spindle, means for withdrawing said centering spindle from said stack a distance sufiicient to clear the lowermost record of the stack, and means for removing said lower most record from said stack up'on withdrawal of said centering spindle therefrom.

13. Ina phonograph, the combination of a turntable, a plurality of records stacked thereon, a spindle extending upwardly from said turntable a distance .suflicient to threadedly receive said plurality of records, an arm pivotally mounted to one side of said turntable for movement toward and away from said turntable. and having a centering spindle thereon, said centering spindle 'being arranged to form an extension of said turntable spindle when said arm is in lowered position, means for elevating the record stack above said turntable spindle whereby to thread the records onto said centering spindle. means for raising said arm away from said turntable a distancesufficient to withdraw said centering spindle from said stack clear of the-lowermost record of the stack, means for removing said lowermost record clear of said stack while said stack is in elevated position, means for causing said stack to be lowered back onto said turntable while said arm is still in raised position, and means for placing said removedrecord on the top of the stack after said stack has been. replaced on the turntable.

a spindle extending upwardly from said turntable a distance sufficient to threadedly receive said' plurality of records, an arm pivotally mounted to one side of said turntable for movement toward and away from said turntable and havinga centering spindle thereon, said centering spindle being arranged to form an extension of said turntalowered position,

means for elevating the record stack above said turntable spindle whereby to thread the records onto said centering spindle, means for raising said stack, means for removing said lowermost record clear of said stack while said stack is in elevated position, means for causing said stack to be lowered back onto said turntable while said arm is still in raised position, means for placing said removed record on the top of the stack after said stack has been replaced on the turntable; and means for thereafter causing said arm to be lowered to its said lowered position.

15. In an automatic phonograph of the type wherein-a plurality of records are automatically transferred from an idle position to a sound reproducing position in succession at the completion of playing of each record, the combination of means for reproducing sound from records of various diameters, means for transferring records from said idle position to said sound reproducing position, adjustable indexing means movable manually to any one of a plurality of predetermined positions corresponding to the diameter of records being played, and means cooperatively associated with, said index means and with said sound reproducing means and responsive to adjustment of said index means to determine the starting position of said sound reproducing means in accordance with said diameter, said indexing means including record engaging means for 10- cating the record next to be played in said reproducing position.

16. In an automatic phonograph of the type wherein a plurality of records are automatically transferred from an idle position to a sound reproducing position in succession at the completion of playing of each record, the combination of means for reproducing sound from records of various diameters, means for transferring records from said idle position to ducing position, adjustable indexing means movable manually to any one' of a plurality of prep is determined positions corresponding to the diameter of records being played, and means cooperatively associated with said index means and with said sound reproducing means and responsive to adjustment of said index means to determine the starting position of said sound reproducing means in accordance with said diameter, said indexing means including record engaging means manually adjustable to any one of a plurality of predetermined positions also corresponding to the diameter of records to beplayed for locating said records in said record repro ducing position.

17. In an automatic phonograph of the type wherein a plurality of records are automatically transferred from an producing position in succession at the conipletion of playing of each record, the combination of means for reproducing sound from records of various diameters, means for transferring records from said idle, position to said sound reproducing position, adjustable indexing means movable manually to any on'e'of a plurality of predetermined positions corresponding to the diameter of records being played, and means cooperatively associated with said index means and with said sound reproducing means and responsive to adjustment of said index means to determine the starting position of said sound reproducing means in accordance with said diameter,

said indexing means including a pair of separablesition thereof.

said sound reproidle position to a sound rearms manually adjustable to any one of a plurality of predetermined positions also corresponding to the diameter of records to be played and adapted to be engaged by the particular recrd next to be played during the automatic cycle for locating said record in the reproducing po- 18. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a sound reproducing instrumentality, mounted for movement over a record, a continuously rotatable member, a slidable member having a cam surface thereon, a fixed element adapted to be engaged by said cam surface, a lever pivotally carried by said slidable member, means on said continuously rotatable member adapted to engage said lever for actuating said lever, means responsive to actuation'of said lever for initiating a cycle of automatic operations including removal of said sound reproducing instrumentality from the record, and means associated with said sound reproducing instrumentality for progressively advancing said slidable member in a direction to cause said lever to be interposed in the path of movement of said first named means, said lever being interposed in said path when said-cam surface has been advanced past said fixed member.

responsive to actuation of said lever for initiatw ing a cycle of automatic operations including removal of said sound-reproducing instrumentality from a record upon completion of playing of;

said record, means associated with said instrumentality for effecting engagement, between said lever and said last named means whereby to in-'- itiate said cycle of automatic operations, means arranged to be controlled by said continuously rotatable member for returning said instrumentality to starting position, said last named means including a gear having a fixed relation with said instrumentality, a movable rack member associated with said gear, means associated with said continuously rotatable member for actuating said rack member, a second lever pivotally carried by said slidable member for bringing said instrumentality into engagement with the first groove of the nextrecord to be played, and means on said gear for actuating said second lever to cause it tomove said instrumentality into saidfirst groove.

In an automatic wherein a plurality of phonograph of thetype records are stacked upon the turntable for successive reproduction, a sound turntable and replacing it in some otherplace in the stackin relation to said sound reproducing instrumentality while moving in the opposite direction.

21. In an automatic phonograph of the type wherein aplurality of records are stacked upon the turntable for successive reproduction, a sound reproducing instrumentality, and means including a record transfer arm mounted for movement across said turntable in a fixed hori- 1| arraaso I zontal plane and controlled by said instrumentality for slidably removing from the stack one of the records thereof while moving in one direction acrosssaid turntable and replacing it in the stack 5 in operative relation to said sound reproducing instrumentality while moving in the opposite direction. I a

I .22. In an automatic phonograph of the typewherein a plurality of records are stacked upon the turntable for successive reproduction, a sound reproducing instrumentality, means mounted for movement across said turntable and controlled by said instrumentality' for removing from the stack one .of the records thereof and replacing it in the stack in operative relation to said sound reproducing instrumentality, and means on said last named. means tor placing said sound reproducing instrumentality in substantially starting position with reference to the record next to be o reproduced.

23. In anautomatic phonograph oi the type wherein a plurality of records are stacked upon the turntable for successive reproduction, a sound reproducing instrumen flli y. a movable stop 25 member, adjustable index means associated with said stop member for determining the starting position of said sound reproducing instrumentality, means (mounted for movement across said turntable and controlled by said instrumentality for removing from the stack one of the records thereof while moving in one direction across said turntable and replacing it in the stack in operative relation to said sound, reproducing instrumentality while moving in the opposite direction,

and means on said last named means for engaging and moving said sound reproducing instrumentality against said stop member whereby to position said sound reproducing means. with reference to the next record to be played.

' 24. The invention set forth in claim 4 eharac- 1 terized in that the means for removing thelowermost record from the stack comprises an arm mounted for movement in a plane above the turntable, and characterized further in that the free end or said arm is provided with a member adapted to engage the periphery of said lower-' most record-whereby to slightly, dislodge said record from the stack as said arm ismoved torward, said arm also having record s inpi s means for gripping the record upon continued movement oi said arm in a forward direction.

SAMUEL KOEN. 

